Rounding Cape Horn Panama Canal - References Rounding Cape Horn No sooner had lands been discovered to the westward of Europe than the minds of cosmographers became fixed in the idea of short routes to India in that direction. This ambition would not be abandoned until long after both shores of the western continent had been explored from the Arctic sea to Cape Horn. The necessity of shorter communication between the two oceans becoming more evident from day to day, with, the increase of traffic with the western coast of America, with China, and with the numerous islands of the Pacific. Various projects were entertained to establish such communication either by canal or railway at Tehuantepec, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the isthmus of Panama. There are two routes around the southern tip of South America: the route through Magellan Strait (Estrecho de Magallanes) and the alternative route round Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). The southern tip of South America tapers off into a collection of rugged islands known as Tierra del Fuego. The southernmost headland in this archipelago (group of islands) is Cape Horn. Magellan sailed between the Tierra del Fuego and the mainland in 1520 during his expedition around the world.

Magellan named the region the 'Land of Fire' when he saw fires along the southern shore of the Strait of Magellan. On August 20, 1578, the ships of Sir Francis Drake began to traverse the Strait of Magellan, passing through in 16 days. Drake was driven to the south of Tierra del Fuego, and he came to the correct conclusion that the Terra Australis , a hypothetical southern continent, did not reach to that area, as had been supposed. A few contemporary maps were altered to remove the error, but most of them continued to show it until Cape Horn was rounded by Le Maire and Schouten a few years later. Cape Horn is the southernmost point of South America. It is located in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and is itself an island belonging to Chile. The Cape was first rounded by a European in 1616 by the Dutch expedition of Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire. Cape Horn is notorious because of the poor weather conditions that made it difficult to round in sailing ships before the construction of the Panama Canal.

The route around the Horn was an important path for trade and passenger ships taking goods and people from the East Coast of the US to the West Coast, and was an essential supply route for the Spanish Empire. Before the completion of the Panama Canal, ships had to "round the Horn" in order to move goods or people from the Atlantic side of North and South America to the Pacific. The area is notorious for its sailing hazards: strong winds, large waves, and icebergs drifting up from Antarctica. If weather conditions were unfavorable, this voyage could take as long as eight months. Due to great demand, the ships were often jammed with passengers, and unsanitary conditions prevailed. A number suffered from scurvy from a lack of sufficient variety in their diet. Worse yet, since the crews often took off in search of gold once arriving in San Francisco, many people were left behind waiting for ships in the east. Others failed to account for the reversal of the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere, and suffered from bitter wind and cold as the ships rounded Cape Horn in July or August.

Several events occurred which turned the attention of the American people West: the settlement of the northwestern boundary, by which the US came into possession of Oregon, and the war with Mexico, which added California to the Union in 1848. While the accession of these territories was of the highest importance in a national point of view, their distance rendered them almost inaccessible to the class of emigrants who usually settle new domains, as well as inconvenient to the proper administration of law and government. John Sutter was a Swiss immigrant who came to California in 1839 with a dream of building an agricultural empire. When he needed lumber in early 1848, he assigned the task to one of his men, James Marshall. Marshall decided to build a sawmill on the South Fork of the American river, about 40 miles from Sutter's home. On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold on the property of Johann A. Sutter near Coloma, California. A builder, Marshall was overseeing construction of a sawmill on the American River. Previous claims of gold in California had proven disappointing, and Marshall's find was met with skepticism at first.

The "gold rush" began in earnest only after President James Polk endorsed the discovery in December 1848. Prospectors heading to California the following year were dubbed "forty-niners." But by the spring of 1849, the largest migration (25,000 that year alone) in American history was already taking place. By another estimate, nearly 100,000 people arrived in California in 1849. Although many intended to make fortunes in gold, others capitalized on the miners themselves. Stores, saloons, laundries and other enterprises sprang up overnight in California boomtowns. When the news arrived of the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, there was a big rush to reach California. At the time of Marshall's discovery, the state's non-Indian population numbered about 14,000. By the end of 1849, it had risen to nearly 100,000, and it continued to swell to some 250,000 by 1852.

The Western man, by braving the dangers of the overland route, might expect, if the Indians allowed him to pass unmolested, and he had sufficient stamina to endure the privations of the route over the Rocky Mountains and the passes of the Sierras, to reach California some time within a year. Many new routes were opened into California as a result of the Gold Rush. With an estimated 140,000 emigrants arriving in California via the California Trail between 1849 and 1854, routes were continually modified, tested or even abandoned. His Eastern brother preferred the route by sea, via Cape Horn. There was a great development of the shipping industry after the discovery of gold in California. The sailing vessel was almost the only means of transportation. The voyage generally occupied about six months, which might be extended indefinitely should an accident to the vessel necessitate a visit to Rio Janeiro, Valparaiso, or Callao, while on route, for repairs, water, or provisions. Companies were formed, and vessels were bought and chartered.

The between decks were fitted up with berths for sleeping quarters and the hold was reserved for water and provisions, any spare room being utilized for such freight as the passengers were able to ship and of the character likely to be most needed on arrival in California, generally provisions, household effects, lumber, and other building material. Urged on by that pioneering spirit which seemed inherent in the blood of the American, and invited by the prolific soil and genial climate of these distant possessions, and a prospect of a new and enlarged field for commercial pursuits, large numbers of people migrated thither around Cape Horn. In spite of all of these difficulties, it has been estimated that as many as 25,000 persons made the sea journey to California in the aftermath of the gold discovery, or about as many as lived in the whole territory before 1848. These numbers were dwarfed by those who opted for travel by land. The round voyage to and from San Francisco would occupy about a year, but the larger part of the vessels that went to San Francisco in the first year of the gold excitement never returned. On their arrival there the officers and crews generally deserted the ships and started for the mines.

As no sailors were to be had, the ship had to lie in the harbor uncared for and often without the services of a shipkeeper, and many of them were used as a foundation on which the present city of San Francisco was laid. Using a good ship as a foundation for a city appears rather odd, but here there has been seen an old condemned canal-boat or barge used for a bulkhead, and, with the help of dirt filling, making a fair appearance. In San Francisco many craft belonging to the companies who had no use for the vessels after they had landed their passengers and their belongings safely were hauled as far on shore as was possible, and after their usefulness for places of residence was ended, they were still further removed from tidewater by the filling in all around them, and there some of their bones remained. The clipper ship, Andrew Jackson, Capt. Williams, from New York, arrived in San Francisco the afternoon of 25 March 1860 in the unprecedented time of 89 days and 7 hours, beating the quickest voyage of the clipper ship Flying Cloud. The Andrew Jackson was not an extreme clipper, having been built with a view for carrying as well as sailing.

The clipper ship Flying Cloud, under command of Capt. Josiah P. Creesey, had made the shortest passages made under sail to San Francisco - one in 89 days and 13 hours in 1851, and a second voyage in a few hours more. The shortest homeward passage was made by the Northern Light in 79 days and a few hours to Boston. It must be conceded that any vessel, however fast, must be highly favored by winds and weather to be able to cover nearly 16,000 miles in so short a time. There were a number of short passages made to San Francisco other than the phenomenal ones of the Flying Cloud and Andrew Jackson. One hundred and twenty days might fairly be considered the average. But the Westward Ho, Comet, Surprise, Swordfish, Young America, Firelight, Reporter, and others made the voyage inside of 100 days. The long passages were made by vessels leaving here in midsummer; the short ones were almost invariably by ships leaving New-York between Nov. 30 and March 1.

There were, of course, many long and tedious voyages, when the elements conspired against all progress, where the ship could not get past Cape St. Roque and would be compelled to go back to the equator and try it again. Light winds, no trades where trades ought to be, calms, and counter currents often added many days to the passage of some of the fastest ships, to the untold anxiety of shippers and owners, and occasionally to the great worriment of the underwriters. Sailing ships traditionally favored the Cape Horn route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, although rounding the cape by sail was hazardous. The strong currents and unpredictable winds in the Strait of Magellan were a considerable object to sailing ships, frequently more so than the storms and unfavorable winds of rounding Cape Horn. Steam navigation through the Strait of Magellan began in 1840. Under the Treaty of 1881 between Argentina and Chile delimiting Tierra del Fuego and the Straits of Magellan "Magellan's Straits are neutralized forever, and free navigation is guaranteed to the flags of all nations.

To insure this liberty and neutrality no fortifications or military defenses shall be erected that could interfere with this object." Should some future conflict interrupt passage through the Panama Canal, maritime traffic between Atlantic and Pacific would again seek the old established routes around Cape Horn, through the Beagle Channel or via the Straits of Magellan. NEWSLETTER Maps of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn Tierra del Fuego {tee-air'-uh del fway'-goh} Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago with a land mass of about 73,740 sq km (28,470 sq mi), separated from the southern tip of the South American mainland by the Strait of Magellan. The islands are sparsely populated by three Indian tribes as well as by Chilean and Argentinian settlers. The eastern third of the archipelago belongs to Argentina (1989 est. pop., 58,881); the western two-thirds is Chilean (pop. unavailable). Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, the archipelago's largest island, accounts for about two-thirds of the land area.

Mount Sarmiento, the islands' highest mountain at about 2,300 m (7,550 ft), is located to the west, where the mountains are an extension of the Andes range. The archipelago's eastern portion is in part a continuation of the Patagonian plateau. Some lumbering, livestock raising, fish canning, and mining takes place. Petroleum was discovered in the Chilean section in 1945. The climate is moderately cold, with high winds and variation in rainfall. The area was discovered in 1520 by Ferdinand Magellan, who named it "land of fire." The Indian inhabitants remained largely undisturbed until the 1880s, when Chileans and Argentinians started sheep ranches and discovered gold in the archipelago. In 1881 a boundary dispute was resolved by assigning roughly the western two-thirds of the archipelago to Chile and the remainder to Argentina.

(From The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia) Trekking, climbing and sailing in Patagonia (Torres Del Paine area) See Dientes de Navarino for trekking in Tierra Del Fuego Patagonia has been known as an area of perpetual winds and a land of impenetrable ice and rock above the final cape of Chile at the "ends of the earth" since it's discovery by Magellan. It extends to both Argentina and Chile and reaches Tierra Del Fuego at the southernmost tip of South America. It consists principally of glaciers, mountains, fjords, and pampas. Each is unique in itself and even more awe inspiring in combination. Along the west coast of this land runs a series of archipelagos containing hundreds of rugged islands which eventually give way to a mainland cut deeply by intricately twisting fjords. These may be reached by boat. East of the fjords is the massive Patagonia Ice Cap. This is over 200 miles long and 50 miles wide in places and is the world's biggest ice cap outside of the polar regions. Low pressure systems come to the ice cap from the west and provide heavy snowfall for the glaciers that flowing spectacularly into the fjords.

On the eastern side of the ice cap, the ice runs up to the crest of the Patagonian Andes, where it covers huge knifed-edged ridges, high passes, and scores of towering summits. Beyond the crest, glaciers fall abruptly towards the pampas in dramatic ice flows and ice falls that sometimes end in the midst of alpine lakes. To the east stretch the wind-swept pampas and the smaller Patagonia peaks with their steep walls and severely broken glaciers. The larger peaks are awe inspiring, reaching skyward thousands of feet, with great sheer-walled towers often capped with ice. Near the fjord area of Tierra Del Fuego and the Beagle Channel one may visit the famous Torres Del Paine National Park on the southern edge of the Patagonia Ice Cap. Here you may go backpacking and trekking, or you can join programs to do the mountain climbing as well. Backpackers should have experience with overnight trips in rough country; those who desire to make ascents should have mountaineering ice and snow climbing experience. Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia is like entering into another dimension.

It's a country of rosy towers, immense glaciers, yellowing peaks capped with snowy black horns, and poetic valleys which welcome visitors to view grasslands and many lakes. There is a lake giving a great view of the three marvelous Towers of Paine with beautiful colors at sunset. You may hike into the western side of the park, over open meadows and may have an opportunity to see condors soaring while enjoying the view of the horned peaks. Here you may see guanacos, a kind of camel, hundreds of Andean geese as well as great grebes, buff-necked ibis, southern lapwings, plumbed rails, black-chested buzzard eagles, the rhea, a large ostrich like bird and black necked swans. To the northwest are hundreds of square miles of unexplored ice cap and mountains. *Note: Victory Adventure Travel can obtain reservations for you in Torres del Paine and information on trekking in Tierra Del Fuego.

Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile) - Credo Reference Topic Page: Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile) Definition: Tierra del Fuego from The Macquarie Dictionary a group of islands at the southern tip of South America, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan, and belonging partly to Argentina (2091 km2), and partly to Chile (50 251 km2). Summary Article: TIERRA DEL FUEGO from Encyclopedias of the Natural World: Encyclopedia of Islands Image from: Source: © Royalty-Free/CORBIS. in Encyclopedia of Anthropology Tierra del Fuego is the extensive archipelago of large and small islands at the southern tip of South America, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. Its total area is 73,746 km2, two-thirds of which is owned by Chile, one-third by Argentina. The largest island within the archipelago is Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (Fig. 1). GEOGRAPHIC SETTING The archipelago is further dived by the Beagle Channel running along the southern coast of Isla Grande.

Along the Argentine territory, it forms the border with the Chilean islands to the South. The Chilean territory contains Cape Horn and False Cape Horn (both located on islands). Cape Horn is located on Isla Hornos in the Hermite Islands group, a small archipelago at the very southern extent of Tierra del Fuego. The cape was not named for its shape, but rather for the city of Hoorn in the Netherlands, the birthplace of Dutch navigator Willem Cornelisz Schouten, who first sailed around the cape in 1616. Although Cape Horn is consered the southern tip of South America, Islas Diego Ramirez are farther south, with Islote Aguila being the southernmost in that group. False Cape Horn is a headland at the southern tip of Isla Hoste and is the southernmost point of one of the large islands that constitute Tierra del Fuego, but it is quite often mistaken for Cape Horn itself, especially by sailors approaching from the west. Isla Grande and other islands constituting the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

Also in Chilean territory, Cape Froward is the southernmost extremity of the South American continental land mass, located on the Brunswick Peninsula on the north shore of the Strait of Magellan, south of Punta Arenas. FLORA AND FAUNA The region supports an attenuated southern flora and fauna, as well as dominant introduced species such as the North American beaver, the European rabbit, and sheep, as well as the native guanaco. Forests within the Tierra del Fuego National Park contain tree species of Lenga, Guindo, and Nire. In his Journal and Remarks (later, Voyage ofthe Beagle), Charles Darwin mentions "vegetation thriving most luxuriantly, and large woody stemmed trees of Fuchsia and Veronica in full flower" that was noted on a previous expedition.

Darwin himself claims to "have seen parrots feeding on the seeds of the winter's bark, south of latitude 55°." HUMAN HISTORY Events that took place in Tierra del Fuego during the first of three surveying voyages of HMS Beagle include the suice of Royal Navy Captain Pringle Stokes in 1828, the appointment of Flag Lieutenant Robert FitzRoy as his replacement, and FitzRoy's subsequent knapping of four Fuegian Indians in 1830, which ultimately led to Charles Darwin's participation in the second Beagle circumnavigation-surveying voyage in 1831-1836. It was on this voyage that Captain FitzRoy returned three of the Fuegian Indians—a fourth had died of smallpox in England—to their home on Isla Navarino, on the Chilean se of the Beagle Channel. Tierra del Fuego in general is known for its harsh weather, and Cape Horn in particular is renowned in the history of sailing for the difficulty experienced by vessels and their crews when "rounding the Horn." Buccaneer William Ambrosia Cowley described his experience in 1684: "The weather in the lat.

of 60 deg. was so extream cold that we could bear drinking 3 quarts of Brandy in 24 hours each Man, and be not all the worse for it." With perhaps less brandy on hand, Captain Dav Porter of the U. S. frigate Essex offered this recommendation after his own passage in February 1813: "I would advise those bound into the Pacific, never to attempt the passage of Cape Horn, if they can get there by any other route." Adding to the negative experiences from tempestuous passages around Cape Horn were the remarks of Philo White (1789-1883), who rounded the Horn in 1841 in the U.S. sloop of war Dale and wrote: "It is now going on four weeks, that we have been off Cape Horn!

buffeting strong gales of contrary winds,—wearing and tacking ship, in endeavors to make progress against tremendous head swells, and strong adverse currents,—amst furious snow squalls, and hail and sleet storms: There is consequently much suffering amongst the crew." Tierra del Fuego has the world's southernmost city (Ushuaia), national park (Parque Nacional Cabo de Hornos), highway (Argentina's RN 3), and brewery (Cervecería Fueguina). SEE ALSO THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES Continental Islands / Juan Fernandez Islands / Voyage of the Beagle FURTHER READING Armstrong, P. 2004. Darwin's other islands. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. Olivero, E. B., and Martinioni, D. R.. 2001. A review of the geology of the Argentinian Fuegian Andes. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 14: 175-188. MATTHEW J. JAMES MLA JAMES, M. J., Woram, J. M., & WORAM, J. M. (2009). Tierra Del Fuego.

In R. G. Gillespie, & D. A. Clague (Eds.), Encyclopedias of the natural world: encyclopedia of islands. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Retrieved from JAMES, MATTHEW J., John M. Woram, and JOHN M. WORAM. "Tierra Del Fuego." In Encyclopedias of the Natural World: Encyclopedia of Islands, edited by Rosemary G. Gillespie, and David A. Clague. University of California Press, 2009. JAMES, M.J., Woram, J.M. and WORAM, J.M. (2009). Tierra Del Fuego. In R.G. Gillespie & D.A. Clague (Eds.), Encyclopedias of the natural world: encyclopedia of islands. [Online]. Berkeley: University of California Press. Available from: [Accessed 18 January 2017]. JAMES, MATTHEW J., et al. "Tierra Del Fuego." Encyclopedias of the Natural World: Encyclopedia of Islands, edited by Rosemary G. Gillespie, and David A.

Clague, University of California Press, 2009. Credo Reference, Accessed 18 Jan 2017. Images Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego Islands Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the south of South America, separated from the mainland by the Magellan Strait. The 73,753 km² archipelago was divided between Argentina and Chile in 1881. The eastern part belongs to Argentina (the Territory of Tierra del Fuego) and its main towns are Rio Grande and Ushuaia . The western part belongs to Chile (Magallanes province) and its main towns are Porvenir and Puerto Williams. Cape Horn is at the southernmost part of the archipelago, in Chilean land. Understand "Tierra del Fuego" (Spanish: "Land of Fire") got its name from Ferdinand Magellan who, on passing the archipelago in 1520, spotted a number of fires burning along the coastline. These fires may have been made by the archipelago's aboriginal inhabitants: the Ona, Alakaluf and Yahgan (commonly called Yamana).

Four aboriginals were taken from Tierra del Fuego in 1830 by Robert Fitzroy, and were sailed to Britain to meet the King. The three survivors later returned to Tierra del Fuego on the Beagle, with Charles Darwin, who believed the native Fuegans to be "the missing link". The arrival of missionaries, introduction of sheep farming and the discovery of gold in the 1880s led to European, Argentine, and Chilean immigrants, which gradually killed off the native Fuegans. An excellent book on the history of the Yamana and their demise is The Uttermost Part of the Earth by E. Lucas Bridges, the son of one of the early missionaries. His father, Thomas Bridges, documented what he could of the Yamana language and found that it had a larger vocabulary than the English language. Today, the economy is based on petroleum, tourism, textiles, electronics and, to a decreasing degree, sheep-farming. The western parts of the archipelago form the southernmost tip of the Andes range. The eastern parts are an extension of the Patagonian plateau.

Based in the south of Patagonia, the climate is cold but warmer than many assume; in winter, the average temperature is -2. In summer, it can climb to 30, although in reality it rarely rises far beyond 10. There are frequent high winds and much rainfall, especially in the coastal areas. Cities Ushuaia (Argentina) - Tourist centre of Tierra del Fuego, and base for most excursions, treks and trips to Antarctica. Arguably the most southerly city in the world. Rio Grande (Argentina) - The economic capital of Argentine Tierra del Fuego, its industries include oil, textiles and cattle breeding. Porvenir (Chile) - A small city and base for crossing the Magellan Strait to the mainland. Puerto Williams (Chile) - The only settlement on Naravino Island, and arguably the most southerly town in the world. Other destinations Tierra del Fuego National Park - a rugged, mountainous national park with great views of Lapataia Bay. Getting there There are regular Aerolineas Argentinas flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and Rio Grande. Air services also link major settlements to Punta Arenas in Chile .

Buses from all over Argentina enter Tierra del Fuego via Rio Gallegos. NB Buses running from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia all pass through Chilean land, so include two border crossings. A regular ship, the ferry Melinka, links Porvenir and Punta Arenas, and naval vessels supply Ushuaia and Isla Navarino, Chile . Traveling around Roads are poor in Tierra del Fuego, and, apart from the tourist tour train, there are no railways. There is little public transport. However, tours / transport can be booked through the Tourist Office (on San Martin, Ushuaia ) or through many of the hostels. Taxis are another option, costing, for example, Ar$7 to get from the city centre to either the airport or Glaciar Martial. There are also several car / bicycle hire companies in Ushuaia. See Museo Marítimo - Located in Ushuaia's old prison, this excellent museum displays a collection of the history of Tierra del Fuego.

Estancia Haberton - Open only in the summer months, Estancia Haberton is a worthwhile trip for those interested in the Bridges family and their role in the local history. Things to do Hike the Glacier Martial - Provided that you wear comfortable shoes and have the patience, a hike up the Glacier Martial will provide a very beautiful view of Ushuaia and the Beagle Chanel. There is also a single ski slope open during the winter months, and ski hire is available from the site. The cheapest way to get there is by taxi from Ushuaia, which costs Ar$7. Catamaran trips - Catamaran trips will take you around the Beagle channel and give you nice views of the mountains, cormorants, sea lions and penguins. Tierra del Fuego National Park - This national park provide some nice day hikes on well marked trails. Cerro Castor - This centre for winter sports offers skiing and snowboarding. Nearby, you can also ride snowcats or husky sleighs during the winter. Kayak the Beagle Channel - Kayaks can be hired near Ushuaia's Aeroparque, on the promontory.

The Penguin Rookery Fin del Mundo Train- A steam train running from Ushuaia to the national park. Take a cruises - Several cruises operate from Ushuaia, taking in the Beagle Channel and some islands, eg Los Lobos Island. Hike around Lakes Escondido and Fagnano - Beautiful spots to walk, relax, fish, or ride a horse. Take a trip to Cabo San Pablo, Ojo del Albino or Laguna Esmeralda - These sites offer more stunning and rugged scenery. Eat A regional specialty is King Crab, called centolla in Spanish, and seafood is usually excellent. Otherwise, local cuisine follows the tendencies of Chile and Argentina in general. Fruit and vegetables have to be transported from thousands of miles away and, as such, are rarely tasty. Drink Ushuaia has several bars and one nightclub. Safety Crime rates on Tierra del Fuego are very low. If hiking or trekking, it is important to take warm, waterproof gear. Islands Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego - The main island, with an area of around 48,000 km², is commonly referred to as Tierra del Fuego or as Isla Grande.

Shaped like a triangle (with its base at the Beagle Channel), the island's main cities are Ushuaia and Rio Grande, both on the eastern, Argentine side. The five medium sized islands and numerous small islands, islets and rocks include: The islands to the south of the Beagle Channel - Hoste, Navarin, Gordon, Londonderry, Stewart and Wollaston. The western group of islands - Clarence Island, Desolation Land and Dawson Island. Flights can be booked from the Aerolineas office in Ushuaia. Buses to Buenos Aires and other destinations (apart from Puerto Natales) all stop at Rio Gallegos. It can be cheaper to just buy a ticket to Rio Gallegos and purchase an onward ticket from there. Contact & location South American Voyages | Road Scholar Hotel Intersur Recoleta Activity note: Hotel check-in in the afternoon. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Morning: After completing arrival procedures, a program representative will be waiting outside the secure arrivals area to escort those on Road Scholar group flights to the transfer vehicle. Checking in at the hotel, meet your Group Leader and take some time to freshen up and relax.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Afternoon: With our Study Leader — who will also serve as Group Leader throughout the program — we will board a motorcoach for an introductory field trip to get acquainted with the city's major neighborhoods and attractions. Among the highlights we’ll see are the main square — Plaza de Mayo — surrounded by the Casa Rosada (Presidential Headquarters Office), the Cabildo (Colonial Town Hall), and the Cathedral. We’ll drive through the charming streets of San Telmo and down the colorful roads of La Boca, famous for its multi-colored tin houses. We’ll also pass through elegant Barrio Norte on the way to Recoleta, an amazing above-ground cemetery lined with mausoleums and statues. Finally, we’ll visit Palermo and its magnificent mansions and parks before returning to the hotel. Dinner: In our hotel meeting room, we’ll have a buffet dinner with wine, coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase. Evening: Orientation: The Study Leader/Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions.

We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with a Study Leader who will lecture and lead field trips and who will also serve as Group Leader dealing with logistics. We will also be joined by local experts at different ports of call. In addition to lectures and field trips exclusively for our Road Scholar group, you are invited to take advantage of the activities and events aboard ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program. You will see a number of places in the daily schedule when you can choose to do what you like and make your experience as personally meaningful, rewarding, and memorable as possible. The Study Leader/Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow afternoon. DAY B,D MS Zaandam Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach.

For embarkation, luggage will be collected from the coach, brought on board, and taken to each participant’s stateroom. The standard shipboard safety drill will be prior to sailing. Breakfast: In the hotel. Morning: Free Time. Hotel check-out is 11AM. Luggage will be held at the hotel until we board our coach for the transfer to the ship this afternoon. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions. Afternoon: We’ll re-group at the hotel late afternoon and transfer to the MS Zaandam for boarding. Upon completion of check-in you will receive a ship identification card. It will serve as your identification for security procedures when embarking and disembarking the ship, and for making purchases on board. It is also your access card to your cabin. Take some time to freshen up and relax or begin becoming familiar with the ship. Along with everyone else on board, we will participate in the mandatory ship’s safety drill when announced.

Dinner: Each evening aboard ship, Road Scholar participants are invited to have dinner together with the Study Leader at the early seating in the main dining room, where we will have reserved tables. There are tasty choices for each of the five (5) a la carte courses to order from the menu. Included beverages are coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase. There will three "Gala Nights" aboard the ship. Holland America will share more details for which nights these will be after embarkation. See the "Clothing and Packing Suggestions" section of this packet for more information. For other meals, you can choose the Lido Restaurant or one of the several specialty restaurants. The Lido is cafeteria style for breakfast and lunch with an extensive buffet at dinner. Breakfasts offer dishes such as cooked-to-order omelettes, pancakes, fresh fruits, cereals, yogurts, fresh-squeezed orange juice, coffee, tea, water. Lunches feature cuisine from around the world including Asian stir-fry, gourmet sandwiches, pasta, pizza, sushi, and an extensive salad bar. The specialty restaurants include an upscale option at extra cost. Free round-the-clock room service is available. There are bars in several different locations.

Evening: Enjoy a performance during and after dinner. Details of performance may not be available before embarkation. A copy of the next day’s shipboard schedule — listing activities and events outside the Road Scholar program — will be placed in cabins each evening of the voyage. DAY MS Zaandam Activity note: Deboarding/reboarding the ship via steep gangways and steps; getting on/off a motorcoach. Breakfast: In the cafeteria style Lido Restaurant, breakfast offers dishes such as cooked-to-order omelettes, pancakes, fresh fruits, cereals, yogurts, fresh-squeezed orange juice, coffee, tea, water, and more. Morning: We’ll get off the ship and climb aboard a motorcoach for a field trip led by a local expert to get a glimpse of life on an estancia. In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors brought cattle that thrived on the vast, fertile grasslands of the pampas (plains). It’s been estimated that by the 18th century, there were 40 million! Escaped horses became massive herds. Gauchos (cowboys) caught and tamed horses and used them to capture cattle.

By the 19th century, landowners had developed estancias similar to ranches of the Old West. Today, gauchos still tend to herds on the pampas, their lives closely connected to country traditions, feeding the cattle, taking care of the horses, playing the guitar, and drinking yerba mate. We’ll ride to a traditional estancia for a gaucho party that includes a folklore show with music, dances, carriage rides, and a horseback riding demonstration. Lunch: At the estancia, we’ll have a traditional Argentine asado — literally “roasted” — though the beef is cooked very slowly. More than a meal, the asado is a social occasion. Afternoon: Returning to the ship, we’ll have time to freshen up and relax. You might like to take part in some of the many activities available and spend time making new Road Scholar friends. Dinner: Aboard ship. B,L,D MS Zaandam Activity note: Deboarding/reboarding the ship via steep gangways and steps. Getting on/off a motorcoach; no extensive walking. Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We’ll take a field trip by motorcoach with expert commentary by a local expert and see significant aspects of the Old City, Constitution Square, Colonial Town Hall, Solis Theatre, and Independence Square. At the center of the square stands a monument dedicated to the national hero, Joservasio Artigas, and his mausoleum. Riding along the main commercial street, 18 de Julio Avenue, we’ll observe the urban landscape of shops, cafés, and office buildings. The immense Congress Building is the pride of Uruguay. We’ll return to the ship at the end of our field trip. Lunch: Aboard ship, enjoy cuisine from around the world such as Asian stir-fry, gourmet sandwiches, pasta, pizza, sushi, and an extensive salad bar. You may also choose to stay ashore and lunch at a local restaurant at your own expense. Afternoon: Free Time. See and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You might like to go out for personal independent exploration in Montevideo or take advantage of the ship’s activities and amenities. Dinner: Aboard ship.

B,L,D MS Zaandam Activity note: Days at sea will often be a mix of Road Scholar group activities and independent options. In addition to lectures by our Group Leader exclusively for Road Scholar, you are welcome to enjoy the activities, amenities, and entertainments aboard ship. Breakfast: Aboard ship. Morning: We’ll join our Study Leader for a lecture about the history and culture of the places we will explore. Lunch: Aboard ship. Afternoon: Free Time. This time aboard ship is an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve seen and learned so far, to engage in conversations with our Study Leader and fellow Road Scholars, to take part in shipboard activities that enhance the voyage and make it more meaningful, as well as to free our thoughts and minds amid the vastness of the ocean. We’ll gather for a Road Scholar cocktail party before dinner this evening. The Group Leader will let you know when and where. Dinner: Aboard ship. B,L,D MS Zaandam Activity note: Landing at Port Stanley is highly dependent on weather conditions at the time of arrival. Ships anchor off shore and tender passengers in. High winds and rough seas could prevent landings. Getting on/off tender, getting on/off motorcoach.

Breakfast: Aboard ship. Morning: During our full day Port Stanley field trip with a local expert, we’ll get a sense of life in the Falklands in different eras — the 1840s, 1940s, and 1970s — that were distinctively different, each with its own special character. Among highlights we’ll encounter are the Cathedral with its Whale Bone Arch; the 1982 Battle Memorial; wrecks of old sailing ships; a private whalebone display; Stanley Airport; the hospital; Government House; the Community School; the mizzen mast from the famous SS Great Britain; and minefields. We’ll also see Nutt Cartmell Cottage, one of the earliest residential buildings in Stanley, and the museum at Britannia House preserving and presenting the Falklands' maritime and local history. At Gypsy Cove, an area of outstanding natural beauty, we’ll see some of the many species of birdlife as well as a colony of Magellanic penguins.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a Falklands “smoko.” In Australia and New Zealand, a smoko is a break for having a smoke, while in the Falklands, it’s a tea/coffee break with tasty treats such as biscuits (cookies) and light savory snacks. Afternoon: We’ll continue our exploration of Port Stanley, returning to the ship with time to freshen up and relax before dinner. Dinner: Aboard ship. Activity note: N/A Breakfast: Aboard ship. Morning: As we cruise through the Strait of Magellan, we’ll have expert commentary by our Study Leader. The Strait of Magellan is named for the intrepid Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, the first to circumnavigate the globe in 1520. Although a challenge to navigation due to winds and currents, it was the safest and fastest passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans until completion of the Panama Canal. This natural channel runs between the mainland of South America and the Tierra del Fuego archipelago to the south. Lunch: Aboard ship. Afternoon: Free Time. As you will have learned by now, there are often shipboard classes and workshops that may attract your interest.

Dinner: Aboard ship. B,L,D MS Zaandam Activity note: Hiking about 2 miles (round trip) to penguin rookery, grassland with sandy areas; sturdy walking shoes, windbreaker, head covering recommended. Breakfast: Aboard ship. Morning: Disembarking the ship and boarding our motorcoach, we’ll ride through the Patagonian countryside to Otway Sound. The characteristic low shrubs offer just enough camouflage for guanacos and rheas (South American ostrich). Upon arrival at Otway Sound, we’ll hike about a mile across grassland with sandy areas to the penguin rookery where a colony of Magellanic Penguins nest and breed for the mating season here in the place where they were born. With luck, these penguins can live 25 years or more. Mating pairs return every year to lay eggs, either under shrubs or buried in sandy burrows, producing one or two chicks the parents take turns watching and feeding. At this time of year, most of the chicks will have hatched. In the area open to visitors, we may see several hundred penguins.

At the conclusion of the field trip, we’ll hike back to the motorcoach and head to Punta Arenas. Lunch: At a farm outside town, we’ll have tasty local fare. Afternoon: Driving into Punta Arenas, we’ll see the Plaza de Armas, the main square, and walk to a cemetery that commemorates some of the local leading figures. We’ll then return to and reboard the ship with time to freshen up and relax before dinner. Dinner: Aboard ship. Activity note: Walking in the national park, up to 1 mile; uneven terrain. Breakfast: Aboard ship. Morning: Free Time. Consult the shipboard schedule for activities and events outside the Road Scholar program that may be of interest to you. Lunch: Aboard ship. Afternoon: Upon arrival in Ushuaia, we’ll disembark and board a motorcoach for a field trip to Tierra del Fuego National Park. A local expert will discuss the natural history and unique geology of Patagonia — the region at the southernmost tip of South America — where the Andes range ends. The landscape of the national park is characterized by mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and forests.

Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire). It got its name after the 1520 expedition of Ferdinand Magellan when he and his sailors saw the distant smoke and fires of native peoples. Today, the territory is shared by Argentina and Chile. The capital, Ushuaia, is the southernmost city in the world. The southernmost headland of the archipelago is Cape Horn. Dinner: Aboard ship. B,L,D MS Zaandam Activity note: This is a tender port where a smaller boat ferries passengers from the ship to shore and back; disembarking and reboarding via steep gangways and steps. Getting on/off tender, getting on/off motorcoach; walking up to 1 mile. Breakfast: Aboard ship. Morning: We’ll disembark, board a motorcoach, and ride through lush countryside dotted with weathered clapboard barns and churches to Frutillar. This charming, German-style village is on Lake Llanquihue, South America's third-largest natural lake. At the Museo Colonial Alemán (German Colonial Museum), a local expert will provide insights into the lives of settlers who colonized the area. Next, we’ll drive to Puerto Octay.

The name comes from an early colonist, Ochs, who owned a grocery store. When people wanted to buy something they said: "Donde Ochs hay" (at Ochs, they have it), which devolved into "Octay.” We’ll see diverse architecture with a unique wood style, a historical reflection of the colonization process in the mid-19th century. Lunch: At a restaurant in town, we’ll have empanadas (stuffed and baked or fried pastry), soup, a main dish with vegetables, dessert, and coffee or tea. Afternoon: We’ll review the next day’s activities en route back to the ship. Dinner: Aboard ship. Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Breakfast: Aboard ship. Morning: After docking in Valparaiso and disembarking from the ship, we’ll board a motorcoach with a local expert. We’ll encounter the celebratory side of country life at a Fiesta Linda. We’ll see Chile's national dance, the cueca, and have a dance lesson to try it ourselves. Huasos (Chilean cowboys) dressed in traditional costume will also demonstrate their skills on horseback.

Lunch: At the Fiesta Linda, choose from an assortment of traditional Chilean favorites — such as Empanadas, choripan, sopaipillas with pebre, tortilla de rescoldo with Chancho en Piedra — while listening to Chilean music performed by a folkloric group. Afternoon: We'll continue on to our hotel in Santiago. The afternoon is free time to explore Santiago independently. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Dinner: In the hotel. In Flight B Activity note: Hotel check out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers. If you are an independent traveler (POP status), see “Arrival and Departure instructions.” After hotel check-out, you may leave luggage with the concierge if you would like to go exploring. Restaurants in Santiago generally do not serve dinner early enough before going to the airport, but there will be time after checking in for your flight to get something to eat. Breakfast: In the hotel. Morning: We'll board a motorcoach with a local expert for a trip to explore the vibrant city of Santiago and learn about Chilean culture, customs, and traditions.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Afternoon: Transfer to the airport for evening flights departing from Santiago. DAY Tierra del Fuego Chile - Cape Horn Chile Tierra del Fuego Chile Wineries Share Tierra del Fuego, which means Land of Fire in Spanish, is an archipelago off the southern tip of South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago's main island is split between Chile and Argentina . This area was thought to be the end of the world by many early explorers, and it certainly feels utterly remote today as well. On a tour of Tierra del Fuego in Chile, you can visit Cape Horn, go hiking , fishing , and explore the various islands of the archipelago. Be sure to prepare for chilly temperatures when traveling to Tierra del Fuego. Tierra del Fuego Chile has a subpolar oceanic climate with long and wet winters, brief and cold summers, and even temperatures through the year. The climate is similar to that of the Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutian islands, and Iceland.

The name Tierra del Fuego came from explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who visited in 1520 and saw, from the sea, the bonfires that the Yaghan Indians lit for warmth in the cold climate. Originally, the islands were called the Land of Smoke but later were renamed the Land of Fire. The Yaghan Indians were the earliest known human inhabitants of the Tierra del Fuego. Chile Map The biggest Chilean towns in Tierra del Fuego are Porvenir, Puerto Williams, and Puerto Toro. Porvenir Chile, which is the capital of the Chilean Province of Tierra del Fuego, is located on the main island. Puerto Williams, on the other hand, is on Navarino, which is one in a group of smaller islands in Tierra del Fuego Chile. Puerto Williams is the capital of the Antarctica Chilena Province. Puerto Toro is a bit further south, and holds the distinction of being the world's southernmost village. At the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego Chile archipelago is Cape Horn.

Widely considered the southernmost point in South America, Cape Horn Chile features treacherous waters, with strong winds, strong currents, giant waves, and icebergs. Before the Panama Canal opened, such hazards led to the sinking of many ships carrying international cargo around the world. Today, Cape Horn Chile is still considered a major yachting challenge, and is included in routes for sailing around the globe. There are many ways to tour Tierra del Fuego in Chile. One of the easiest ways is by booking through a tour company. Some tours specialize in the historical and cultural aspects of the islands, others on the birds, fish or other natural highlights of the archipelago. You can also tour Tierra del Fuego in Chile explore by walking, cycling, and sailing (though much of the waters are very dangerous). No matter how you choose to tour Tierra del Fuego in Chile, this is sure to be one attraction that will make your vacation unique and memorable. Whether you decide to go hiking, watch the wildlife , or learn about the history of Cape Horn Chile and the surrounding area, a vacation to this part of South America should include a stop in this beautiful area.

Related Articles Earth Snapshot • Cape Horn November 22nd, 2009 Category: Snapshots Argentina - October 6th, 2009 Tierra del Fuego (Spanish for “Land of Fire”) is an archipelago 73,753 km2 (28,476 sq mi) off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The southern point of the archipelago forms Cape Horn. Tierra del Fuego is shared by Argentina and Chile. More precisely, 18.507,3 km2 belongs to Argentina (38,57% of the region’s total surface), 29.484,7 km2 belongs to Chile (61,43% of total surface). The climate in this region is very inhospitable. It is a subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfc) with short, cool summers and long, wet, moderate winters. The precipitation averages 3,000 mm (118 in) a year.

Temperatures in Ushuaia hardly surpass 9 °C (50 °F) in summers and average 0 °C (30 °F) in winters. Snowfall can occur in summer. The cold and wet summers help preserve the ancient glaciers. The southernmost islands possess subantarctic climate typical of tundra that makes the growth of trees impossible. Some areas in the interior have a polar climate. Tierra del Fuego Venezuela Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego (Spanish for "Land of Fire") is an archipelago separated from the Southernmost tip of the South American mainland by the Strait of Magellan. The Southern point of the archipelago forms Cape Horn. The archipelago consists of a main island (Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, often simply called Tierra del Fuego or Isla Grande) with an area of 48,100 sq km (29,887 sq miles), and a group of smaller islands. Half of this island, and the islands west and south of it, are part of the Magallanes Region of Chile, the capital and chief town of which is Punta Arenas, situated on the mainland across the strait.

The biggest Chilean towns are Porvenir, on the main island, and Puerto Williams, on Navarino Island. Puerto Toro lies a few kilometers south of Puerto Williams and is the Southernmost town in the world. Torres del Paine Three sheer granite towers in one of the most beautiful parks of our planet. Breathtaking lakes and mountains. Patagonia travel adventure at its best. The eastern part of the archipelago belongs to Argentina, being part of the Tierra del Fuego Province; its capital is Ushuaia, the biggest city of the archipelago, and the other important city in the region is Río Grande, over the Atlantic coast. Its name comes from Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first European to pass it in 1520. He believed he was seeing the many fires (fuego in Spanish) of the Amerindians, which were visible from the sea, and that the "Indians" were waiting in the forests to ambush his armada. It is, however, more likely that the fires he witnessed were from natural sources such as lightning. Argentina

Question: Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America is on which archipelago that translates as 'land of fire' in Spanish?
Answer: Tierra del Fuego